Bat Surveys

We can provide the whole range of bat surveys across the UK and have extensive project experience and knowledge. Our licenced bat ecologists provide our clients with expert advice and support through each individual project.

Survey Inventory

1. Our Services

2. Background Information

3. Mitigation and Licensing

4. Bat Low Impact Class Licence

5. Additional Services

Our Services

Access Ecology carry out bat surveys and mitigation using the latest equipment across the UK.

If no evidence of activity is found, and the level of potential is considered to be sufficiently low then a report will be produced suitable for submission to the local planning authority.

Alternatively. depending on the evidence found or suitability of the building, structure or tree up to three nocturnal activity surveys may be required to establish presence and location of bat roosts and the number of individuals and species of bats inhabiting them. These must be undertaken within the active breeding season of May to September (inclusive).

The results will inform a survey report of our findings which is suitable for submission to the local planning authority. Our report will include suitable site specific recommendations including whether a European Protected Species Licence is required for the development to continue.

Background Information

Bats will use a variety of places to roost including, trees, caves and all manner of buildings and individual species have specialised to forage in a variety of most British habitats.

There are 17 Species of bat native to the UK. All species and their resting places are legally protected under both the Regulation 41 of The Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010 and Section 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

It is an offence for anyone intentionally to kill, injure or handle a bat, to possess a bat (whether live or dead), disturb a roosting bat, or sell or offer a bat for sale without a licence. It is also an offence to damage, destroy or obstruct access to any place used by bats for shelter, whether they are present or not.

Mitigation and Licensing

Any project where bats may be impacted detrimentally will require a Natural England development licence to protect the bats and to mitigate these affects on the population.

Access Ecology has a number of Licensed and experienced staff who have compiled and managed successful licence applications for a range of differing development (and non-development) situations. As a result we are able to offer advice and expertise on all stages of the licensing and mitigation process.

Bat Low Impact Class Licence

We are now able to off a new licence to our repertoire, Bat Low Impact Class Licence (BLICL). As of Spring 2015 our Principal Ecologist, Nick Bonsall is a registered consultant for Bat Low Impact Class Licence (BLICL).

The BLICL will permit works which have low impacts on certain bat species and certain roost types but which still need a licence. Once surveys have been completed to determine species present and roost type the BLICL can be applied for.

Through the BLICL we are able to offer our clients a quicker turn around on licence applications, the usual being 30 days, with a BLICL this is reduced to 10. This quicker turnaround is excellent news for clients as they can avoid costly delays.

Additional Services

In addition to standard building and tree risk assessments and activity surveys, Access Ecology can offer the following services in relation to bats;